In California, the possibilities are endless. Nothing says “California” quite like a road trip. FasTrak allows drivers to explore more of the Golden State using our 25 tolled bridges, lanes and roads to save time and stress.
What is FasTrak? It is the technology used statewide to pay electronically on every tolled bridge, and road in California. It’s the easiest and preferred way to pay – and, in some cases, it’s the only way to pay.
Drivers are encouraged to establish a FasTrak account with the agency that operates the toll facility that they’ll use most, because each tolling agency has its own rules and minimum requirements. And, on some of California’s express lanes, qualifying carpools and other select vehicles are eligible for free or discounted toll rates. While The Toll Roads do not offer carpool discounts – our FasTrak accountholders may be eligible for a frequent driver discount. To learn more about the discount, click here.
Tolling in California by the Numbers
History of Transponders
In California, the state’s toll facilities are operated by various agencies and special-purpose districts. Because of this, the California State Legislature passed Senate Bill 1523 in 1990, requiring all agencies to use one electronic toll collection system. Three years later, we opened the first section of the 241 Toll Road between Portola Parkway (North) and Portola Parkway (South) with the state’s first electronic toll collection system – FasTrak.
When we first introduced FasTrak, the transponders consisted of a gadget about the size of a Walkman where a smart card was inserted. The transponders were unpopular with both operators and accountholders because they cost more, offered little advantage and drivers were charged with a $10 annual fee (which has been discontinued!). By 1995, the clunky transponders were redesigned to be the size of a coaster that could be mounted by adhesive strips to the windshield.
When the Metro ExpressLanes opened in Los Angeles in late 2012, it introduced new transponders with a special switch that indicates the number of occupants (1, 2, or 3 or more) in the vehicle. This enables the open road tolling system to automatically compute the carpool or solo driver toll, as well as allow the California Highway Patrol to visually check to see if there are more or fewer people in the car than indicated on the transponder. To increase convenience for our FasTrak accountholders, we began offering switchable transponders in 2013.
In 2019, The Toll Roads were the first in California to introduce new sticker transponders to replace the hardcase transponders. The new sticker transponders are small, unobtrusive and durable and can be used to pay tolls on all FasTrak facilities throughout the state.
The Toll Roads’ Transponders
Today, The Toll Roads offer a variety of transponders to best fit the needs of our drivers. Whether you have a sticker or switchable, all transponders issued by The Toll Roads can be used to pay tolls on any tolled facility in California.
Learn more about FasTrak the agencies that keep California moving at TheTollRoads.com.
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